Material handling system for fluids

Abstract

Material handling systems for fluids are disclosed herein. The fluid may be a liquid, solution, slurry, or emulsion. The systems receive as inputs the fluid, steam, and water. These feed into a surge tank where additives can be introduced. The steam and water are used to control some physical properties and enable the distribution of the fluid as desired. In particular embodiments, the system is useful for handling materials to be sent to a dual-phase fuel feeder for combustion in a fluidized-bed boiler, the energy being used to generate electricity or in various production processes.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid material handling system, comprising:
 a fluid inlet line; 
 a steam inlet line; 
 a surge tank having a fluid inlet port fluidly connected to the fluid inlet line, a steam inlet port fluidly connected to the steam inlet line, an additive port, a recycle port, and a fluid outlet port; 
 a heater fluidly connected to the fluid outlet port of the surge tank; and 
 a pipe downstream of the heater which splits into (a) a feed line leading to at least one feeder outlet line and (b) a return line having a pressure regulating valve and leading to both (i) the recycle port of the surge tank and (ii) storage for the fluid. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the feed line has a pulse valve upstream of the at least one feeder outlet line. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising (i) a water inlet line and (ii) a cleaning line fluidly connected to both the steam inlet line and the water inlet line. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the cleaning line is fluidly connected to the at least one feeder outlet fine. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the surge tank further comprises a mixer. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one feeder outlet line runs to a dual-phase fuel feeder. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the dual-phase feeder comprises:
 a plate defining a base of the dual-phase feeder; 
 a sloped chute having a top end and a bottom end; 
 a plurality of gas distribution nozzles, each gas distribution nozzle of the plurality of gas distribution nozzles comprising a gas distribution outlet located below the bottom end of the sloped chute and above the plate; and 
 a plurality of secondary nozzles, each secondary nozzle of the plurality of secondary nozzles comprising a secondary outlet located below the plate. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the dual-phase feeder comprises:
 a sloped chute for feeding a solid fuel to a boiler; and 
 secondary nozzles located above the sloped chute for directing a fluid into the boiler. 
 
     
     
       9. A method for preparing a fluid for distribution to a process, comprising:
 sending the fluid through a fluid inlet line of a material handing system that comprises: 
 the fluid inlet line; 
 a steam inlet line; 
 a surge tank having a fluid inlet port fluidly connected to the fluid inlet line, a steam inlet port fluidly connected to the steam inlet line, an additive port, a recycle port, and a fluid outlet port; 
 a heater fluidly connected to the fluid outlet port of the surge tank; and 
 a pipe downstream of the heater which splits into (a) a feed line leading to at least one feeder outlet line and (b) a return line having a pressure regulating valve and leading to both (i) the recycle port of the surge tank and (ii) storage for the fluid; 
 heating the fluid in the surge tank with steam from the steam inlet line; and 
 sending the heated fluid through the fluid outlet port to the feed line and to the at least one feeder outlet line. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid is heated in the surge tank to a temperature of about 200° F. or below. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the heated fluid exiting the surge tank is further heated in the heater to a temperature of about 200° F. or below. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the feed line has a pulse valve upstream of the at least one feeder outlet line, and further comprising pulsing the heated fluid. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising mixing the fluid in the surge tank with an additive. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein heated fluid flowing through the return line is sent to the recycle port of the surge tank. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , wherein heated fluid flowing through the return line is sent to storage. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the material handling system further comprises (i) a water inlet line and (ii) a cleaning line fluidly connected to both the steam inlet line and the water inlet line; and
 further comprising sending a water/steam mixture through the cleaning line and through either (i) the feed line or (ii) the return line. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one feeder outlet line runs to a dual-phase fuel feeder. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid for distribution is a liquid, a solution, a slurry, or an emulsion. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid for distribution is a cellulosic biofuel waste syrup. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the dual-phase feeder comprises:
 a plate defining a base of the dual-phase feeder; 
 a sloped chute having a top end and a bottom end; 
 a plurality of gas distribution nozzles, each gas distribution nozzle of the plurality of gas distribution nozzles comprising a gas distribution outlet located below the bottom end of the sloped chute and above the plate; and 
 a plurality of secondary nozzles, each secondary nozzle of the plurality of secondary nozzles comprising a secondary outlet located below the plate.